Our History

In 1918, the Illinois Cottage opened on Kent Street in Rockford, IL and provided care and protection for unwed mothers and young women following Camp Grant soldiers during World War I. The Illinois Cottage was incorporated and renamed the Children’s Convalescent Home in 1927, providing services to convalescing children and adults.

During the period of 1940-1960, programs for neglected, dependent and abused children were expanded to meet community need.

In 1970, the Home moved to Rockton, IL and was renamed the Goldie B. Floberg Center after a Winnebago County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, who was a strong supporter of the Center and children in the community. Our focus at this time was a crisis intervention program for abused and neglected children, infant to 13 years; however, the Crisis Intervention Program was soon phased out due to changes in DCFS and Juvenile Probation Department placement policies. At this time, our focus turned toward meeting the unmet statewide need of providing services to children and youth having developmental disabilities.

Our service to adults began in 1989, through the Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) Program. Employment and vocational training opportunities are provided to 36 adults who live in supervised community placements.

Today, we employ over 150 staff from several stateline area communities. We serve 33 counties located in the Northern half of Illinois. Our Adult Program was recently re-licensed again for longest term possible, three years.

We are licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as a Child Welfare Agency.

Honors

2001: Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities “On the Right Path” Award to the Center’s Recreational Specialist; American Association of Mental Retardation’s Direct Support Professional Award to two staff.

2002: Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities “On the Right Path” Award to Center’s Children’s Services Administrator; American Association of Mental Retardation Direct Support Professional Award to one staff.